HC Deb 10 July 1992 vol 211 cc347-9W
1992. Mr. Hutton

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will list the numbers of people employed in each industry covered by a wages council in(a) 1970, (b) 1979 and (c)

Mr. McLoughlin

Statistical returns of the number of workers in establishments within the scope of the wages councils are not collected but periodic estimates are made. The results of exercises conducted for the years closest to those specified are shown in the tables. The figures for 1987 exclude young people under 21 years of age for whom the councils are not empowered to fix minimum rates.

Wages Council 1973
(All workers)
Aerated waters (E and W) 20,000
Aerated waters (Scotland) 2,500
Boot and floor polish 1,250
Boot and shop repairing 12,500
Brush and broom 8,000
Button manufacturing 4,000
Coffin furniture and cerement making 550
Corset 13,000
Cotton waste reclamation 1,000
Dressmaking and women's light clothing (E and W) 125,000
Dressmaking and women's light clothing (Scotland) 10,000
Flax and hemp 4,000
Fur 8,500
General waste materials reclamation 26,000
Hair, bass and fibre 500
Haidressing undertakings 140,000
Hat, cap and millinery (Great Britain) 7,000
Hollow-ware 1,500
Industrial and staff canteen undertakings 218,000
Keg and drum 5,600
Lace finishing 1,500
Laundry 86,000
Licensed non-residential establishment 340,000
Licensed residential establishment and licensed restaurant 390,000

Wages Council 1973
(All workers)
Linen and cotton handkerchief and household goods and linen piece goods 6,500
Made-up textiles 5,500
Milk distributive (E and W) 75,000
Milk distributive (Scotland) 22,000
Ostrich and fancy feather and artificial flower 750
Paper box 35,000
Perambulator and invalid carriage 5,000
Pin, hook and eye and snap fastener 1,500
Ready-made and wholesale bespoke tailoring 115,000
Retail bespoke tailoring (E and W) 7,000
Retail bespoke tailoring (Scotland) 500
Retail bookselling and stationery trades 25,000
Retail bread and flour confectionery trade (E and W) 54,000
Retail bread and flour confectionery trade (Scotland) 10,000
Retail drapery, outfitting and footwear trades 440,000
Retail food trades (E and W) 293,000
Retail food trades (Scotland) 36,500
Retail furnishing and allied trades 200,000
Retail newsagency, tobacco and confectionery trades (E and W) 84,000
Retail newsagency, tobacco and confectionery trades (Scotland) 13,000
Road haulage 220,000
Rope, twine and net 7,000
Rubber proofed garment making industry 1,000
Sack and bag 3,000
Shirtmaking 43,000
Stamped or pressed metal wares 20,000
Toy manufacturing 40,000
Unlicensed place of refreshment 160,000
Wholesale mantle and costume 60,000

Wages councils 1979 1987
(All workers) (excluding under 21s)
Aerated waters 14,900 5,500
Boot and shoe repairing 7,900 5,000
Button manufacturing 3,300 1,000
Clothing manufacture1 294,500 147,000
Coffin furniture and cerement making 500 200
Cotton waste reclamation 400 300

Wages councils 1979 1987
(All workers) (excluding under 21s)
Fur 5,100 1,500
Flax and hemp 2,300 500
General waste materials reclamation 20,200 13,000
Hairdressing undertaking 128,600 64,000
Hat, cap and millinery 7,800 4,000
Lace finishing 700 900
Laundry 39,200 26,000
Licensed non-residential establishment 470,000 492,000
Licensed residential establishment and licensed restaurant 530,000 379,000
Linen and cotton handkerchief and household goods and linen piece goods 5,600 2,500
Made-up textiles 6,500 3,000
Ostrich and fancy feather and artificial flower 1,500 500
Perambulator and invalid carriage 2,100 2,000
Retail bespoke tailoring 5,000 4,000
Retail food and allied trades 522,800 465,000
Retail trades (non-food) 563,700 745,000
Rope twine and net 4,000 2,500
Sack and bag 1,800 1,000
Toy manufacturing 23,300 11,000
Unlicensed place of refreshment 121,900 96,000
1 In 1979 there were seven councils covering the clothing manufacturing trade.